Post by Adrien | Adam on Jul 26, 2018 12:32:00 GMT -5
Credit also goes to Tasmin Richards and Betsy Granger
Date: July 15th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, Adam Sanders thrusts out of his bed. His brain wouldn’t stop, and it was making it impossible for him to sleep. It was almost like the same several thoughts kept rotating in his mind, taking turns on what was going to make him anxious and nervous about the future. Once he realizes what just happened, he quickly turns to make sure he didn’t wake his girlfriend...his angel...the woman who has taken his life and turned it into something he isn’t quite sure he’s ever experienced before.
She was undisturbed. Adam was relieved. He looks at her as she sleeps peacefully. She has one arm underneath her pillow, her other hand near where Adam’s was. Her face was pointed in Adam’s direction as her nose crinkles a little in her sleep. The leg closer to Adam was bent as the other one was straight. She wasn’t wearing much. Only a tank top and a pair of matching panties were underneath the blanket. He pulls back some of the blonde hair that wandered in front of her face.
Adam: “I love you. So, so much, Tasmin. And I hope that whatever decisions we come to...it keeps us together for the rest of our lives…”
Adam leans in and kisses her on her nose. He makes sure the blanket covers her completely before sliding off his side of the bed. He lifts his phone to check the time. It’s a bit past two in the morning.
Adam: “Oh boy…”
He whispers to himself to make sure he doesn’t wake his girlfriend. After putting on a t-shirt, he slowly and silently opens the bedroom door and enters the kitchen of his San Diego apartment. He opens the refrigerator and removes a carton of orange juice before he pours himself a glass. As he does this, he thinks about the conversation he saw Tasmin have with his manager, Eddie Walker, earlier on Twitter. That with their combined ten thousand dollar gifts, courtesy of the casino winnings of Jessica Sears and Dean Matthews, maybe they could pool their money together and their incomes together to get a bigger apartment that can be theirs to share.
This apartment has been his on two different occasions. In his sophomore year in college at the University of California San Diego, he elected to move out of the dorms and into this apartment. It was his place of residence up until he graduated the first time and decided to pursue a wrestling career and began dating Kenzie Rydell. That was when he moved in with Adrien Cochrane, along with Kenzie. And after bouncing around a few places after Adrien’s with Kenzie and even returning to Adrien’s alone for a short time, he found himself looking at the listing of his old place...this old place...available as he was signing his contract to wrestle for West Coast Genesis.
It wasn’t a bad apartment by any means. It was just smaller than all the other places he’s lived. Even the apartment he and Kenzie shared in San Jose was a bit bigger than this one. The couch takes up the entire wall it sits against. The television is no more than six feet away on the other wall. As he stands on the border of the kitchen and living room, he was no further than eleven feet from the front door. The bedroom was mostly Adam’s bed and the closet. It didn’t have a whole lot of room for much else.
Adam begins to hear the door open behind him. There’s only one person that could be. It didn’t take a whole lot of process of elimination to figure out who could possibly be leaving his bedroom.
Adam: “Hey, sorry...did I wake you? I just needed something to drink…”
Tasmin groans and smiles with a stretch, shaking her head. She looked half asleep still, to Adam. Her eyes were barely open. She had some stray hairs covering her face. One of the straps to her tank top was on the side of her shoulder and not on top. It was almost as if she was still asleep.
Tasmin: “I’m okay, I just...I moved my hand, and you weren’t there. I miss you…wow, that’s kinda lame.”
She giggles and hides her face, feeling a little embarrassed by the admission that she missed him even when he was in the very next room. Adam laughs a little bit too as he takes another sip of his juice after he feels as though he is done laughing to avoid the orange juice from burning his nasal cavity with the citric acid. He finishes his sip and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. He gives her a soft kiss on the forehead.
Adam: “A little bit, but in a way, I think lame is kinda what works for us. I mean, it has so far.”
He gives a deep breath before pulling his face away to look her in her eyes. He feels the need to add on to his previous statement.
Adam: “And as long as I’m being lame with you, we can be as lame as we want.”
Tasmin: “But Adam your whole ‘cool’ factor will melt, and people will think you’re like...awkward”
She giggles and winks with a smile, clearly poking fun at his reputation for his awkward behaviour...a well-deserved reputation. Tasmin stops giggling after glancing at the clock.
Tasmin: “Are you okay?”
Her demeanor changed after realising the exact time it currently was, tilting her head at her boyfriend curiously with a hint of concern. Adam gives a weak grin.
Adam: “I was thinking about that conversation you had with Eddie. About maybe us getting somewhere else to live...together…”
Adam starts to walk into the living room and takes a seat on the sofa. Not often he sits on the sofa in his boxers, but with it being the hour that it is, neither of them was wearing a whole lot of clothing. He places the glass on the coffee table.
Adam: “We haven’t been together very long...but I want to be with you every second that I can.”
Tasmin: “Are you...are you asking me to move in with you? I mean...are we talking about this? I hate being away from you...but is it...I...you...is it too soon?”
She stumbles over her words breathing heavily and swallowing hard. She takes a seat next to him on the sofa. Adam could feel how nervous she was getting so he pulls her towards him and keeps an arm across her back.
Adam: “I’m talking about Eddie’s idea about getting a whole new place. And moving in together. I’ve lived in this apartment, on and off, for five years. And I’m sure you don’t want to live in your apartment forever either. I think, for now, we can keep switching between our respective places. But...maybe we can think about doing this next step. Like I said, my lease is up in October…”
Tasmin: “Well, by then. Well, I think we’ll be ready. I think we’re ready now. I mean. Adam, I love you. I hate it when we have to be apart, which isn’t much. We’re already living in two separate places…”
Adam: “I love you, Tasmin. With all my heart, I love you, and I never thought I’d be saying anything to someone I’ve only dated in as short a period as this. And honestly, we barely live in the two separate places at this point…”
Adam takes one of Tasmin’s hands with both of his. He gently placing one under hers and one over. He resumes eye contact with her.
Adam: “I want to be at a point where I don’t have to say we’re going to your place or my place. I don’t want to say that I’m coming over. I want it to be a situation where...it’s our place. And I’m not coming over...I’m coming home…”
She sits speechless for a moment. Her eyes trailing over his face and down to her hand in his. She smiles and nods slowly.
Tasmin: “I’m home when I’m with you. Wherever we live. But a place of our own? Not two we stay at? It sounds like heaven. And I want it…”
Adam: “I do too. And there’s a way we can be able to afford it too. I’m guessing you still have your ten thousand from Jessica, right?”
Tasmin nods and smiles making a small squeak noise
Adam: “There’s a clause in my contract. If I win a title, like the Long Beach title again...my salary goes up. It’s something Eddie gets put in all his clients’ contracts. You can imagine the huge payday Adrien just got. But if I win the title and get that pay bump, and we pool our money together...I think we can get our dream apartment. A room set for gaming with a beverage center to keep your Monsters. We can connect it to the living room television so we can play games in separate rooms or in the same room. Bigger couches. Bigger televisions. Bigger bedroom where we can fit both of our collections of clothing. A bigger bathtub for when you want to just soak in bubbles and relax...we can really do this if we really go through with this...if I win the title…”
Tasmin: “I believe in you. I believe in everything you can do. Adam, you’re amazing to me and so sweet and strong. If you need this to help motivate you. I understand. I know you can do it...and have a home with me...somewhere to be ours. It sounds like paradise.”
Adam smiles. His weird little idea seems to be exactly what Tasmin was hoping for.
Adam: “I’ve got two shots we know of. There’s this mini-tournament where I have to face Remi and the winner faces the winner of Sela versus Izzy.”
Tasmin groans but tries to keep it in hearing Izzy and Remi’s names.
Adam: “And there’s also Aerial Warfare. If I can win one of those two...I can get a chance at the title…”
Tasmin: “You will do it, Adam. You’re a great wrestler, trained by a great wrestler, who is also growing with confidence. I have faith in you. My heart is yours. I’m yours. I fucking love you.”
It warms Sanders a little on the inside when he hears Tasmin so frustrated with how much affection she can possibly show Adam that she has to use a precision F-strike just to get the point across. In the end, he loves her just as much.
Adam: “So if I win the Long Beach Title before October 20th...we’ll do it. This championship will be our map for our getaway. We’ll find our dream apartment. And it will be the home of Tasmin Richards and Adam Sanders.”
So excited about the possibility of having this home with Tasmin, he pulls her closes and gives her an enthusiastic kiss. After about thirty seconds, he pulls away and looks into her green eyes.
Adam: “You are absolutely amazing, Tasmin.”
Tasmin: “Thank you. But, I’m only as amazing as I am because you put me back together…you fixed me…”
Adam: “You were never really broken. You just needed the right person to take care of you…”
Adam rises back to his feet before offering his hand to help pull Tasmin back to hers.
Adam: “Back to bed?”
Tasmin gives a bit of a giggle as she allows her boyfriend to pull her back to her feet.
Tasmin: “Only if I get to...celebrate deciding to officially live together.”
Adam had a tendency to not catch onto some of Tasmin’s subtle suggestions that she wanted Adam for a very intimate activity with him. He didn’t miss this one.
Adam: “You know I can’t ever say no to you.”
Tasmin’s face lights up. Sleep was going to have to wait just a little longer.
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“Dairy Queen?”
Adam Sanders looks outside the window to see where his best friend was taking him. It has been a few days since the match between he and Remi Fontaine...or Prince Sekhmenhotep. The match where the Prince had to use nefarious means in order to pull off the job, but the result was what it was. Remi advanced. Adam was out of the tournament. And this tournament...it would have given Adam a huge boost in a promise that he made with Tasmin Richards. Win the title then get the new home…
Betsy: “Helloooooo, calling Adam back to planet Earth!”
Adam jumps a little bit as he began to drift into his thoughts. Betsy noticed he was zoned out and she might have even been speaking to him the entire time after he inquired about where they were. He looks back at Betsy, apologetically and sullen.
Adam: “I’m sorry, Betsy. I was lost in my thoughts…”
Adam’s typically bouncy best friend just nods. So lost in his own thoughts, he hadn’t seemed to notice that Betsy was a lot more subdued than her usual bubbly self. Betsy found she was still troubled by Prince Sekhmenhotep’s interruption during her recording of “Who Wants to Know?” and the reaction he had gotten from her. It took a lot to anger the cool-headed genius, but having seen how Remi not only betrayed Adam but followed it up by cheating to advance in the tournament… The young man had earned her ire, to say the very least. Parking the car, she allows Adam to remain lost in his thoughts as she slides deeper into her own.
Betsy: “You’re forgiven… I’m not exactly all here myself if I’m being honest.”
Robotically, she turns off the car and sits back in her seat, nibbling on her lower lip. The typically bright green eyes are dulled today, her hair is pulled back in a sloppy bun on the top of her head. Even her favorite band t-shirt that she’s wearing is completely disheveled. Without thinking about it, she starts drumming her fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. Adam has reached a point where he realizes the car is parked.
Adam: “I guess, we should go inside? Food and air conditioning and stuff…”
Adam was in slight disarray himself. His Detroit Lions shirt was wrinkled and the collar was pulled a little to the left. His jeans were faded. His hair was all over the place. He opens his car door before going to Betsy’s and opening her door, offering a hand to help his best friend of the past few years out of the car.
Adam: “You coming?”
In a very Adam-like gesture, Betsy looks up at him and just blinks. It takes the normally quick-witted young woman a few moments to realize what is going on. Taking his proffered hand, she slides out of the car and adjusts her shirt, pulling it down slightly as it had ridden up while she was driving. Finally, she looks up at Adam, giving him the first real look all day; she starts running her hands through his hair, smoothing it out as best she can.
Betsy: “We both look like a disaster today… We’ll fit right into the Dairy Queen mold.”
A strained, forced giggle follows this as she links her arm through her best friends and marches them inside. They stand behind the outermost bar of the line as the cashier greets the moody pair cheerfully. Both of them are giving the menu a blank stare, not actually taking in any of the writing. Betsy finally slides her sunglasses up from her eyes and props them against the bun.
Betsy: “Have you ever been starving and unable to eat? I feel like that’s where I’m at right now.”
Adam has perhaps never turned down a meal before. But the fact is: he has had a lot on his mind. But Adam is also well aware that both of them need to eat. Betsy has a big match against Adrien Cochrane coming up quickly, and Adam has a giant list of names he’s going to have to step into the ring with for Aerial Warfare.
Adam: “I have been, but neither of us needs to be that way right now. We need food. Even if it’s not exactly the healthiest food in the world, we need to eat something…”
Adam glances at the menu and sees something simple that can’t go wrong: a cheeseburger.
Adam: “I know what I’m getting. You?”
Nibbling on her lower lip and being uncharacteristically indecisive, Betsy mulls over the menu for an extra minute before nodding her head and stepping forward. The cashier gives them the fake, fast food workers smile and greets them accordingly.
Betsy: “Hamburger meal, cooked medium rare, ketchup and pickles only. As many fries as you can fit into a large box. And a side order of chicken tenders. Hot sauce and BBQ sauce if you have it.”
She steps aside for Adam. Adam avoids eye contact but looks in the general direction of the cashier.
Adam: “Cheeseburger. However you normally dress it. Medium fries and what not.”
Adam begins to reach for his wallet in his back pocket when he feels a hand grab his. Betsy hip bumps Adam out of the way, her wallet already in her hand. The first sign of a smile plays at the corners of her mouth when she hears Adam sigh loudly.
Betsy: “Oh, come off it. You always pay, it’s my turn.”
There’s an unusually comfortable silence between them as they wait for their food, which doesn’t take more than two minutes. They pick a seat in the far corner of the lobby, next to the window and slide into opposite booths. Silently, they both begin to eat, both of them seemingly trying to decide what to talk about. It’s unusual for this particular pair to be so quiet when they’re together. Finishing her burger, Betsy dips the first of her chicken tenders in the hot sauce, then the bbq.
Betsy: “Penny for your thoughts?”
Adam takes a deep breath after eating one of his fries. He knows he can’t hide anything from Betsy so he might as well be upfront about it.
Adam: “I may have missed my chance at something amazing. This loss to Remi might have really screwed things up for me…”
Betsy takes an overly vicious bite of her chicken tender at the mention of the young Prince. Her face clouds over with disgust as she chews.
Betsy: “That fucking guy…”
Taking a deep breath, she calms her temper and looks at Adam. Her own dislike for Remi was based purely off his behavior towards her best friend.
Betsy: “You know, the only way he could actually screw things up for you is if you let him. Opportunity doesn’t knock only once in this industry, Adam. There will be another chance. You’re too talented and too hard-working to be passed over. Eddie won’t let it happen.”
Adam: “Yes, but the problem is...it’s complicated…”
Adam takes another bite of his burger, which is nearly finished at this point. He takes a few more fries to stuff in his mouth to try to prevent himself from saying any more than he already has.
Adam: “Efff srffng trr ddd waf tafffmn”
Adam was sure Betsy wasn’t going to be able to decipher that, which would give him a second to figure out how to explain it to Betsy. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to her full-mouthed bestie try to speak.
Betsy: “Something, something-something, with Tasmin. Oooh, you know I love deciphering stuff!”
For the first time that day, Betsy’s green eyes light up with renewed vigor. She nibbles on another double sauce-soaked chicken tender and studies her best friends face.
Betsy: “Something to do with Tasmin.”
She says this factually, leaning back and flicking a stray fry across the table at Adam. The fry lands on Adam’s nose. He grabs it off his nose and eats it.
Adam: “Yes. I think this loss to Remi was a big setback for me and Tasmin because...well, we were talking a few nights before the show and made an agreement about the next step in our relationship…”
An eyebrow quirks upwards as Betsy takes a sip of her soda. She says nothing, but gestures for Adam to continue.
Adam: “We’re thinking about moving into a new place together…”
The sipping stops immediately as Betsy looks upwards, right into her best friends eyes. He tries to look away nervously after a few seconds of her intense green gaze, but Betsy puts her hand under his chin and forces him to look at her.
Betsy: “Isn’t that a little… Fast?”
Adam gulps a little bit.
Adam: “Not immediately. Late October…”
He nervously starts nibbling on one of his fries as opposed to almost swallowing it whole. Betsy knows this is as a sign that Adam is overthinking again. With a chuckle, Betsy pulls the fry out of Adam’s mouth and sets it aside.
Betsy: “That’s not so bad, then… I thought you meant tomorrow or some sort of ridiculously fast-paced time like that. I didn’t even move into the TARDIS that quickly…”
She trails off for a moment.
Betsy: “But that isn’t what’s bothering you.”
Adam takes a deep breath before continuing.
Adam: “There is a condition that has to be met for this to happen. I...have to win the Long Beach Championship. And that loss to Remi, that took me out of contention. Sela is going to get that shot now since she won the tournament…”
Betsy nods, listening to Adam.
Betsy: “Yes, alright. So you got knocked back a few notches on the list. No big deal, you work your way back up to the number one contender's spot. October gives you plenty of time to do that.”
Adam: “There are only six shows between now and then. One of them, I’m already booked in that Aerial Warfare match with the whole division. And we know Sela is getting her shot after that. That’s four shows, but wait, they only defend the Long Beach every other show so only two matches will be booked after Sela’s turn...how do I know I’m going to get a chance in time?”
Betsy: “The only way you can: By working your ass off for it and forcing the big-wigs to turn their heads and realize Adam Sanders as the Long Beach Champion equals dollar signs.”
Adam: “Well, I guess one of the other two is going to be for whoever wins Aerial Warfare…”
Technically speaking, Adam knew he had a chance. The problem was...there were six people in the match that have the same hopes as Adam: The aforementioned Sela Lark, Adam’s personal thorn in the side Remi Fontaine, Remi’s boyfriend JD Ryan, Jaime’s daughter Anastacia Alejandro, former NGW competitor Alicia Hixx, and a new competitor he knew nothing about named Jeremiah Richardson.
Adam: “I guess I have a one in seven chance at that. But... there are some names on this list…”
Betsy clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth as she did a mental checklist of the competitors in the Aerial Warfare match. She nods her head slowly, considering the competition.
Betsy: “I know you’ve got Remi in there… Do you what you need to do to destroy that little fuckhead. If I don’t get my hands on him first, mind you… Sela is going to be hungry, she’s going to want it as much as you, so make sure you watch for her. JD… I’m wondering what kind of a factor he’ll play in this. He’ll want that title as much as he’ll want to see Remi succeed… It COULD make him an easier target. The new guy… He might get a little too excited at his opportunity, that can definitely be used against him. And then there’s... “
Betsy trails off as she reaches the name she considered the biggest challenge. She meets his eyes, nibbling on her lower lip. She reaches across the table and puts her hand over Adam’s.
Betsy: “Ana is fierce. She takes after her father in that. But you’ve got something she doesn’t, Adam… You’ve got a goal. An endgame. You’re working towards building your future with this girl you love and that’s a powerful motivator. I know you can do it Adam, and so does Tasmin. It won’t be easy… But I #Believe in you.”
She tries to smirk at the reference, but a soft smile crosses her lips instead. Giving Adam’s hand a gentle squeeze, she takes another sip from her soda, letting the tender moment between them linger.
Adam: “The thing that’s going to make this interesting is the fact that it’s an elimination match at first. Which means JD Ryan is going to be helping Prince and vice versa. I mean…”
Adam dazes off to the right as a thought comes to mind.
Adam: “Perhaps...I could do the same with Anastacia. I mean, we’re friends, I think. I mean, we both learned under Adrien. She seems to still be trying to get her footing here in West Coast Genesis. And plus, the others will target her just as much. Sela will probably still want revenge from the last time we faced one another in a pay per view match…”
Adam remembers the Sela’s Playground match. Somehow, despite the match being slanted in her favor, Adam was able to pull off the victory.
Adam: “Speaking of Adrien though…”
Betsy lifts an eyebrow as she crumbles the wax paper wrapper her burger came in and stuffs it into the chicken tenders box, along with her fries container. She starts doing the same with Adam’s trash and combines it, putting their trays together. Sliding out of the booth, she gets rid of the garbage, refills her Dr. Pepper and sits back down.
Betsy: “What about Adrien?”
Adam: “You’re aware of your next match, right?”
Adam takes the final bite of his burger before continuing to nibble on his fries. This was quite a conflicting match for Adam: his teacher and mentor taking on his best friend. He wants both of them to win every match they can in NGW. Unfortunately, one of them is going to have to take the loss in this one.
Adam: “It’s strange how we went from watching him in the stands back in the RIMAC and now you’re going to have to step into the ring with him as his opponent. Granted, I don’t think there’s a person on the roster, aside from Jaime, that knows Adrien in the ring better than you.”
Sitting back in her booth and taking a long sip of her pop, Betsy considers just how far both she and Adam have come.
Betsy: “You know, if someone had come to me during those days in the RIMAC and said that by 2018, you’ll have dated Chuck Matthews, trained with Jaime Alejandro and have your second high-profile match in NGW against the top champion, Adrien Cochrane, I’d have looked at them like they’d grown another head. I still can’t quite believe where both of us are as opposed to where we started. I guess we aren’t doing too bad for ourselves, the Awkward One and the Know-It-All.”
Betsy grins at Adam and raises her cup for a toast. Sanders lifts up his cup of Minute Maid Lemonade to also toast Betsy.
Adam: “To how far we’ve come...I guess?”
Adam taps Betsy’s cup with his own before taking another sip through his straw. He gives a weak smile back.
Adam: “I mean, I’ve been trained by Adrien Cochrane, am dating the younger sister of one of his top rivals, and am actually facing the daughter of Jaime Alejandro in this massive match so I can completely understand where you’re coming from.”
Sanders nods his head, thinking about the match once more.
Adam: “Really think I can beat the other six in this match?”
A confident smirk crosses the face of Granger. She nods firmly.
Betsy: “Abso-fucking-lutely. And more to the point? Tasmin does, too. And Adrien. And even Jaime, even if his loyalties are elsewhere. The point is, you’ve proven yourself, over and over again in this company. People are no longer wondering IF Adam Sanders will be a household name, now it’s more a matter of WHEN. You’re on your way, my shy guy.”
Her green eyes shine with affection that only Adam has ever been on the receiving end of. Like a sister looking at an older brother whom she adores. Which Betsy does, completely. Adam knows this look. And despite the fact that most of their public interactions are Betsy tormenting him on Twitter or teasing him in front of Tasmin, he knew that if there was ever one person who can go through hell and back for him, it was his best friend.
Adam: “Well, you’re on your way too, my linguistic genius…? Does that nickname work as well as shy guy does?”
Adam snaps himself out of his overthinking state.
Adam: “Imagine what happens if you beat Adrien Cochrane though…”
A fire sparks those green eyes as Betsy considers the doors such a win would open. Unwilling to get herself over excited, yet unable to help herself, she giggles nervously.
Betsy: “Wouldn’t that be something? I don’t want to overstep my own thought process or confidence… But all it takes it the right move and three seconds... “
Her giggles titter like chirping birds.
Betsy: “Think I should challenge him to a dropkick contest?”
Adam: “No. Do NOT do that. I’ve been dropkicked so many times by him and other people and there is a HUGE difference. And every time I see him get dropkicked by someone, it never ends well for them…”
Sanders’s eyes are wide, a serious tone escaping him. He doesn’t blink as he looks into Betsy’s green eyes.
Adam: “I severely recommend against it…”
Nodding her head and laughing openly, Betsy slides out of the booth rubbing her tummy. She glances towards the ice cream menu, back to Adam, back to the menu, then back to Adam again. A devilish grin crosses her features as she knows that Adam knows her biggest weakness on the entire planet…
Betsy: “Got room for dessert?”
Adam: “I was practically expecting it, considering who is sitting across this table from me.”
Sanders smiles. Ice cream with Betsy Granger...it felt like it was 2014 all over again...
Parked outside the house we used to live
There's a light left on inside
Think of all the days we'd spend
Orchestrating accidents
Lights that used to blind us
Somehow they will guide us through the night
Following the outline of your face
I can see your breath move in the dark
Through all the autopilot years
The tears of joy, the face of fear
Now that we're not hiding
Somehow you're still riding in my car
Date: July 15th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, Adam Sanders thrusts out of his bed. His brain wouldn’t stop, and it was making it impossible for him to sleep. It was almost like the same several thoughts kept rotating in his mind, taking turns on what was going to make him anxious and nervous about the future. Once he realizes what just happened, he quickly turns to make sure he didn’t wake his girlfriend...his angel...the woman who has taken his life and turned it into something he isn’t quite sure he’s ever experienced before.
She was undisturbed. Adam was relieved. He looks at her as she sleeps peacefully. She has one arm underneath her pillow, her other hand near where Adam’s was. Her face was pointed in Adam’s direction as her nose crinkles a little in her sleep. The leg closer to Adam was bent as the other one was straight. She wasn’t wearing much. Only a tank top and a pair of matching panties were underneath the blanket. He pulls back some of the blonde hair that wandered in front of her face.
Adam: “I love you. So, so much, Tasmin. And I hope that whatever decisions we come to...it keeps us together for the rest of our lives…”
Adam leans in and kisses her on her nose. He makes sure the blanket covers her completely before sliding off his side of the bed. He lifts his phone to check the time. It’s a bit past two in the morning.
Adam: “Oh boy…”
He whispers to himself to make sure he doesn’t wake his girlfriend. After putting on a t-shirt, he slowly and silently opens the bedroom door and enters the kitchen of his San Diego apartment. He opens the refrigerator and removes a carton of orange juice before he pours himself a glass. As he does this, he thinks about the conversation he saw Tasmin have with his manager, Eddie Walker, earlier on Twitter. That with their combined ten thousand dollar gifts, courtesy of the casino winnings of Jessica Sears and Dean Matthews, maybe they could pool their money together and their incomes together to get a bigger apartment that can be theirs to share.
This apartment has been his on two different occasions. In his sophomore year in college at the University of California San Diego, he elected to move out of the dorms and into this apartment. It was his place of residence up until he graduated the first time and decided to pursue a wrestling career and began dating Kenzie Rydell. That was when he moved in with Adrien Cochrane, along with Kenzie. And after bouncing around a few places after Adrien’s with Kenzie and even returning to Adrien’s alone for a short time, he found himself looking at the listing of his old place...this old place...available as he was signing his contract to wrestle for West Coast Genesis.
It wasn’t a bad apartment by any means. It was just smaller than all the other places he’s lived. Even the apartment he and Kenzie shared in San Jose was a bit bigger than this one. The couch takes up the entire wall it sits against. The television is no more than six feet away on the other wall. As he stands on the border of the kitchen and living room, he was no further than eleven feet from the front door. The bedroom was mostly Adam’s bed and the closet. It didn’t have a whole lot of room for much else.
Adam begins to hear the door open behind him. There’s only one person that could be. It didn’t take a whole lot of process of elimination to figure out who could possibly be leaving his bedroom.
Adam: “Hey, sorry...did I wake you? I just needed something to drink…”
Tasmin groans and smiles with a stretch, shaking her head. She looked half asleep still, to Adam. Her eyes were barely open. She had some stray hairs covering her face. One of the straps to her tank top was on the side of her shoulder and not on top. It was almost as if she was still asleep.
Tasmin: “I’m okay, I just...I moved my hand, and you weren’t there. I miss you…wow, that’s kinda lame.”
She giggles and hides her face, feeling a little embarrassed by the admission that she missed him even when he was in the very next room. Adam laughs a little bit too as he takes another sip of his juice after he feels as though he is done laughing to avoid the orange juice from burning his nasal cavity with the citric acid. He finishes his sip and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. He gives her a soft kiss on the forehead.
Adam: “A little bit, but in a way, I think lame is kinda what works for us. I mean, it has so far.”
He gives a deep breath before pulling his face away to look her in her eyes. He feels the need to add on to his previous statement.
Adam: “And as long as I’m being lame with you, we can be as lame as we want.”
Tasmin: “But Adam your whole ‘cool’ factor will melt, and people will think you’re like...awkward”
She giggles and winks with a smile, clearly poking fun at his reputation for his awkward behaviour...a well-deserved reputation. Tasmin stops giggling after glancing at the clock.
Tasmin: “Are you okay?”
Her demeanor changed after realising the exact time it currently was, tilting her head at her boyfriend curiously with a hint of concern. Adam gives a weak grin.
Adam: “I was thinking about that conversation you had with Eddie. About maybe us getting somewhere else to live...together…”
Adam starts to walk into the living room and takes a seat on the sofa. Not often he sits on the sofa in his boxers, but with it being the hour that it is, neither of them was wearing a whole lot of clothing. He places the glass on the coffee table.
Adam: “We haven’t been together very long...but I want to be with you every second that I can.”
Tasmin: “Are you...are you asking me to move in with you? I mean...are we talking about this? I hate being away from you...but is it...I...you...is it too soon?”
She stumbles over her words breathing heavily and swallowing hard. She takes a seat next to him on the sofa. Adam could feel how nervous she was getting so he pulls her towards him and keeps an arm across her back.
Adam: “I’m talking about Eddie’s idea about getting a whole new place. And moving in together. I’ve lived in this apartment, on and off, for five years. And I’m sure you don’t want to live in your apartment forever either. I think, for now, we can keep switching between our respective places. But...maybe we can think about doing this next step. Like I said, my lease is up in October…”
Tasmin: “Well, by then. Well, I think we’ll be ready. I think we’re ready now. I mean. Adam, I love you. I hate it when we have to be apart, which isn’t much. We’re already living in two separate places…”
Adam: “I love you, Tasmin. With all my heart, I love you, and I never thought I’d be saying anything to someone I’ve only dated in as short a period as this. And honestly, we barely live in the two separate places at this point…”
Adam takes one of Tasmin’s hands with both of his. He gently placing one under hers and one over. He resumes eye contact with her.
Adam: “I want to be at a point where I don’t have to say we’re going to your place or my place. I don’t want to say that I’m coming over. I want it to be a situation where...it’s our place. And I’m not coming over...I’m coming home…”
She sits speechless for a moment. Her eyes trailing over his face and down to her hand in his. She smiles and nods slowly.
Tasmin: “I’m home when I’m with you. Wherever we live. But a place of our own? Not two we stay at? It sounds like heaven. And I want it…”
Adam: “I do too. And there’s a way we can be able to afford it too. I’m guessing you still have your ten thousand from Jessica, right?”
Tasmin nods and smiles making a small squeak noise
Adam: “There’s a clause in my contract. If I win a title, like the Long Beach title again...my salary goes up. It’s something Eddie gets put in all his clients’ contracts. You can imagine the huge payday Adrien just got. But if I win the title and get that pay bump, and we pool our money together...I think we can get our dream apartment. A room set for gaming with a beverage center to keep your Monsters. We can connect it to the living room television so we can play games in separate rooms or in the same room. Bigger couches. Bigger televisions. Bigger bedroom where we can fit both of our collections of clothing. A bigger bathtub for when you want to just soak in bubbles and relax...we can really do this if we really go through with this...if I win the title…”
Tasmin: “I believe in you. I believe in everything you can do. Adam, you’re amazing to me and so sweet and strong. If you need this to help motivate you. I understand. I know you can do it...and have a home with me...somewhere to be ours. It sounds like paradise.”
Adam smiles. His weird little idea seems to be exactly what Tasmin was hoping for.
Adam: “I’ve got two shots we know of. There’s this mini-tournament where I have to face Remi and the winner faces the winner of Sela versus Izzy.”
Tasmin groans but tries to keep it in hearing Izzy and Remi’s names.
Adam: “And there’s also Aerial Warfare. If I can win one of those two...I can get a chance at the title…”
Tasmin: “You will do it, Adam. You’re a great wrestler, trained by a great wrestler, who is also growing with confidence. I have faith in you. My heart is yours. I’m yours. I fucking love you.”
It warms Sanders a little on the inside when he hears Tasmin so frustrated with how much affection she can possibly show Adam that she has to use a precision F-strike just to get the point across. In the end, he loves her just as much.
Adam: “So if I win the Long Beach Title before October 20th...we’ll do it. This championship will be our map for our getaway. We’ll find our dream apartment. And it will be the home of Tasmin Richards and Adam Sanders.”
So excited about the possibility of having this home with Tasmin, he pulls her closes and gives her an enthusiastic kiss. After about thirty seconds, he pulls away and looks into her green eyes.
Adam: “You are absolutely amazing, Tasmin.”
Tasmin: “Thank you. But, I’m only as amazing as I am because you put me back together…you fixed me…”
Adam: “You were never really broken. You just needed the right person to take care of you…”
Adam rises back to his feet before offering his hand to help pull Tasmin back to hers.
Adam: “Back to bed?”
Tasmin gives a bit of a giggle as she allows her boyfriend to pull her back to her feet.
Tasmin: “Only if I get to...celebrate deciding to officially live together.”
Adam had a tendency to not catch onto some of Tasmin’s subtle suggestions that she wanted Adam for a very intimate activity with him. He didn’t miss this one.
Adam: “You know I can’t ever say no to you.”
Tasmin’s face lights up. Sleep was going to have to wait just a little longer.
No cash in the bank, no paid holidays
All we have, all we have is
Gas in the tank, maps for the getaway
All we have, all we have is time
Parked outside the house we used to live
Staring down the green roof and the walls
The balcony, the hills, the pain
The years of hope, the months of rain
Now that we're outside it, I guess we survived it after all
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“Dairy Queen?”
Adam Sanders looks outside the window to see where his best friend was taking him. It has been a few days since the match between he and Remi Fontaine...or Prince Sekhmenhotep. The match where the Prince had to use nefarious means in order to pull off the job, but the result was what it was. Remi advanced. Adam was out of the tournament. And this tournament...it would have given Adam a huge boost in a promise that he made with Tasmin Richards. Win the title then get the new home…
Betsy: “Helloooooo, calling Adam back to planet Earth!”
Adam jumps a little bit as he began to drift into his thoughts. Betsy noticed he was zoned out and she might have even been speaking to him the entire time after he inquired about where they were. He looks back at Betsy, apologetically and sullen.
Adam: “I’m sorry, Betsy. I was lost in my thoughts…”
Adam’s typically bouncy best friend just nods. So lost in his own thoughts, he hadn’t seemed to notice that Betsy was a lot more subdued than her usual bubbly self. Betsy found she was still troubled by Prince Sekhmenhotep’s interruption during her recording of “Who Wants to Know?” and the reaction he had gotten from her. It took a lot to anger the cool-headed genius, but having seen how Remi not only betrayed Adam but followed it up by cheating to advance in the tournament… The young man had earned her ire, to say the very least. Parking the car, she allows Adam to remain lost in his thoughts as she slides deeper into her own.
Betsy: “You’re forgiven… I’m not exactly all here myself if I’m being honest.”
Robotically, she turns off the car and sits back in her seat, nibbling on her lower lip. The typically bright green eyes are dulled today, her hair is pulled back in a sloppy bun on the top of her head. Even her favorite band t-shirt that she’s wearing is completely disheveled. Without thinking about it, she starts drumming her fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. Adam has reached a point where he realizes the car is parked.
Adam: “I guess, we should go inside? Food and air conditioning and stuff…”
Adam was in slight disarray himself. His Detroit Lions shirt was wrinkled and the collar was pulled a little to the left. His jeans were faded. His hair was all over the place. He opens his car door before going to Betsy’s and opening her door, offering a hand to help his best friend of the past few years out of the car.
Adam: “You coming?”
In a very Adam-like gesture, Betsy looks up at him and just blinks. It takes the normally quick-witted young woman a few moments to realize what is going on. Taking his proffered hand, she slides out of the car and adjusts her shirt, pulling it down slightly as it had ridden up while she was driving. Finally, she looks up at Adam, giving him the first real look all day; she starts running her hands through his hair, smoothing it out as best she can.
Betsy: “We both look like a disaster today… We’ll fit right into the Dairy Queen mold.”
A strained, forced giggle follows this as she links her arm through her best friends and marches them inside. They stand behind the outermost bar of the line as the cashier greets the moody pair cheerfully. Both of them are giving the menu a blank stare, not actually taking in any of the writing. Betsy finally slides her sunglasses up from her eyes and props them against the bun.
Betsy: “Have you ever been starving and unable to eat? I feel like that’s where I’m at right now.”
Adam has perhaps never turned down a meal before. But the fact is: he has had a lot on his mind. But Adam is also well aware that both of them need to eat. Betsy has a big match against Adrien Cochrane coming up quickly, and Adam has a giant list of names he’s going to have to step into the ring with for Aerial Warfare.
Adam: “I have been, but neither of us needs to be that way right now. We need food. Even if it’s not exactly the healthiest food in the world, we need to eat something…”
Adam glances at the menu and sees something simple that can’t go wrong: a cheeseburger.
Adam: “I know what I’m getting. You?”
Nibbling on her lower lip and being uncharacteristically indecisive, Betsy mulls over the menu for an extra minute before nodding her head and stepping forward. The cashier gives them the fake, fast food workers smile and greets them accordingly.
Betsy: “Hamburger meal, cooked medium rare, ketchup and pickles only. As many fries as you can fit into a large box. And a side order of chicken tenders. Hot sauce and BBQ sauce if you have it.”
She steps aside for Adam. Adam avoids eye contact but looks in the general direction of the cashier.
Adam: “Cheeseburger. However you normally dress it. Medium fries and what not.”
Adam begins to reach for his wallet in his back pocket when he feels a hand grab his. Betsy hip bumps Adam out of the way, her wallet already in her hand. The first sign of a smile plays at the corners of her mouth when she hears Adam sigh loudly.
Betsy: “Oh, come off it. You always pay, it’s my turn.”
There’s an unusually comfortable silence between them as they wait for their food, which doesn’t take more than two minutes. They pick a seat in the far corner of the lobby, next to the window and slide into opposite booths. Silently, they both begin to eat, both of them seemingly trying to decide what to talk about. It’s unusual for this particular pair to be so quiet when they’re together. Finishing her burger, Betsy dips the first of her chicken tenders in the hot sauce, then the bbq.
Betsy: “Penny for your thoughts?”
Adam takes a deep breath after eating one of his fries. He knows he can’t hide anything from Betsy so he might as well be upfront about it.
Adam: “I may have missed my chance at something amazing. This loss to Remi might have really screwed things up for me…”
Betsy takes an overly vicious bite of her chicken tender at the mention of the young Prince. Her face clouds over with disgust as she chews.
Betsy: “That fucking guy…”
Taking a deep breath, she calms her temper and looks at Adam. Her own dislike for Remi was based purely off his behavior towards her best friend.
Betsy: “You know, the only way he could actually screw things up for you is if you let him. Opportunity doesn’t knock only once in this industry, Adam. There will be another chance. You’re too talented and too hard-working to be passed over. Eddie won’t let it happen.”
Adam: “Yes, but the problem is...it’s complicated…”
Adam takes another bite of his burger, which is nearly finished at this point. He takes a few more fries to stuff in his mouth to try to prevent himself from saying any more than he already has.
Adam: “Efff srffng trr ddd waf tafffmn”
Adam was sure Betsy wasn’t going to be able to decipher that, which would give him a second to figure out how to explain it to Betsy. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to her full-mouthed bestie try to speak.
Betsy: “Something, something-something, with Tasmin. Oooh, you know I love deciphering stuff!”
For the first time that day, Betsy’s green eyes light up with renewed vigor. She nibbles on another double sauce-soaked chicken tender and studies her best friends face.
Betsy: “Something to do with Tasmin.”
She says this factually, leaning back and flicking a stray fry across the table at Adam. The fry lands on Adam’s nose. He grabs it off his nose and eats it.
Adam: “Yes. I think this loss to Remi was a big setback for me and Tasmin because...well, we were talking a few nights before the show and made an agreement about the next step in our relationship…”
An eyebrow quirks upwards as Betsy takes a sip of her soda. She says nothing, but gestures for Adam to continue.
Adam: “We’re thinking about moving into a new place together…”
The sipping stops immediately as Betsy looks upwards, right into her best friends eyes. He tries to look away nervously after a few seconds of her intense green gaze, but Betsy puts her hand under his chin and forces him to look at her.
Betsy: “Isn’t that a little… Fast?”
Adam gulps a little bit.
Adam: “Not immediately. Late October…”
He nervously starts nibbling on one of his fries as opposed to almost swallowing it whole. Betsy knows this is as a sign that Adam is overthinking again. With a chuckle, Betsy pulls the fry out of Adam’s mouth and sets it aside.
Betsy: “That’s not so bad, then… I thought you meant tomorrow or some sort of ridiculously fast-paced time like that. I didn’t even move into the TARDIS that quickly…”
She trails off for a moment.
Betsy: “But that isn’t what’s bothering you.”
Adam takes a deep breath before continuing.
Adam: “There is a condition that has to be met for this to happen. I...have to win the Long Beach Championship. And that loss to Remi, that took me out of contention. Sela is going to get that shot now since she won the tournament…”
Betsy nods, listening to Adam.
Betsy: “Yes, alright. So you got knocked back a few notches on the list. No big deal, you work your way back up to the number one contender's spot. October gives you plenty of time to do that.”
Adam: “There are only six shows between now and then. One of them, I’m already booked in that Aerial Warfare match with the whole division. And we know Sela is getting her shot after that. That’s four shows, but wait, they only defend the Long Beach every other show so only two matches will be booked after Sela’s turn...how do I know I’m going to get a chance in time?”
Betsy: “The only way you can: By working your ass off for it and forcing the big-wigs to turn their heads and realize Adam Sanders as the Long Beach Champion equals dollar signs.”
Adam: “Well, I guess one of the other two is going to be for whoever wins Aerial Warfare…”
Technically speaking, Adam knew he had a chance. The problem was...there were six people in the match that have the same hopes as Adam: The aforementioned Sela Lark, Adam’s personal thorn in the side Remi Fontaine, Remi’s boyfriend JD Ryan, Jaime’s daughter Anastacia Alejandro, former NGW competitor Alicia Hixx, and a new competitor he knew nothing about named Jeremiah Richardson.
Adam: “I guess I have a one in seven chance at that. But... there are some names on this list…”
Betsy clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth as she did a mental checklist of the competitors in the Aerial Warfare match. She nods her head slowly, considering the competition.
Betsy: “I know you’ve got Remi in there… Do you what you need to do to destroy that little fuckhead. If I don’t get my hands on him first, mind you… Sela is going to be hungry, she’s going to want it as much as you, so make sure you watch for her. JD… I’m wondering what kind of a factor he’ll play in this. He’ll want that title as much as he’ll want to see Remi succeed… It COULD make him an easier target. The new guy… He might get a little too excited at his opportunity, that can definitely be used against him. And then there’s... “
Betsy trails off as she reaches the name she considered the biggest challenge. She meets his eyes, nibbling on her lower lip. She reaches across the table and puts her hand over Adam’s.
Betsy: “Ana is fierce. She takes after her father in that. But you’ve got something she doesn’t, Adam… You’ve got a goal. An endgame. You’re working towards building your future with this girl you love and that’s a powerful motivator. I know you can do it Adam, and so does Tasmin. It won’t be easy… But I #Believe in you.”
She tries to smirk at the reference, but a soft smile crosses her lips instead. Giving Adam’s hand a gentle squeeze, she takes another sip from her soda, letting the tender moment between them linger.
Adam: “The thing that’s going to make this interesting is the fact that it’s an elimination match at first. Which means JD Ryan is going to be helping Prince and vice versa. I mean…”
Adam dazes off to the right as a thought comes to mind.
Adam: “Perhaps...I could do the same with Anastacia. I mean, we’re friends, I think. I mean, we both learned under Adrien. She seems to still be trying to get her footing here in West Coast Genesis. And plus, the others will target her just as much. Sela will probably still want revenge from the last time we faced one another in a pay per view match…”
Adam remembers the Sela’s Playground match. Somehow, despite the match being slanted in her favor, Adam was able to pull off the victory.
Adam: “Speaking of Adrien though…”
Betsy lifts an eyebrow as she crumbles the wax paper wrapper her burger came in and stuffs it into the chicken tenders box, along with her fries container. She starts doing the same with Adam’s trash and combines it, putting their trays together. Sliding out of the booth, she gets rid of the garbage, refills her Dr. Pepper and sits back down.
Betsy: “What about Adrien?”
Adam: “You’re aware of your next match, right?”
Adam takes the final bite of his burger before continuing to nibble on his fries. This was quite a conflicting match for Adam: his teacher and mentor taking on his best friend. He wants both of them to win every match they can in NGW. Unfortunately, one of them is going to have to take the loss in this one.
Adam: “It’s strange how we went from watching him in the stands back in the RIMAC and now you’re going to have to step into the ring with him as his opponent. Granted, I don’t think there’s a person on the roster, aside from Jaime, that knows Adrien in the ring better than you.”
Sitting back in her booth and taking a long sip of her pop, Betsy considers just how far both she and Adam have come.
Betsy: “You know, if someone had come to me during those days in the RIMAC and said that by 2018, you’ll have dated Chuck Matthews, trained with Jaime Alejandro and have your second high-profile match in NGW against the top champion, Adrien Cochrane, I’d have looked at them like they’d grown another head. I still can’t quite believe where both of us are as opposed to where we started. I guess we aren’t doing too bad for ourselves, the Awkward One and the Know-It-All.”
Betsy grins at Adam and raises her cup for a toast. Sanders lifts up his cup of Minute Maid Lemonade to also toast Betsy.
Adam: “To how far we’ve come...I guess?”
Adam taps Betsy’s cup with his own before taking another sip through his straw. He gives a weak smile back.
Adam: “I mean, I’ve been trained by Adrien Cochrane, am dating the younger sister of one of his top rivals, and am actually facing the daughter of Jaime Alejandro in this massive match so I can completely understand where you’re coming from.”
Sanders nods his head, thinking about the match once more.
Adam: “Really think I can beat the other six in this match?”
A confident smirk crosses the face of Granger. She nods firmly.
Betsy: “Abso-fucking-lutely. And more to the point? Tasmin does, too. And Adrien. And even Jaime, even if his loyalties are elsewhere. The point is, you’ve proven yourself, over and over again in this company. People are no longer wondering IF Adam Sanders will be a household name, now it’s more a matter of WHEN. You’re on your way, my shy guy.”
Her green eyes shine with affection that only Adam has ever been on the receiving end of. Like a sister looking at an older brother whom she adores. Which Betsy does, completely. Adam knows this look. And despite the fact that most of their public interactions are Betsy tormenting him on Twitter or teasing him in front of Tasmin, he knew that if there was ever one person who can go through hell and back for him, it was his best friend.
Adam: “Well, you’re on your way too, my linguistic genius…? Does that nickname work as well as shy guy does?”
Adam snaps himself out of his overthinking state.
Adam: “Imagine what happens if you beat Adrien Cochrane though…”
A fire sparks those green eyes as Betsy considers the doors such a win would open. Unwilling to get herself over excited, yet unable to help herself, she giggles nervously.
Betsy: “Wouldn’t that be something? I don’t want to overstep my own thought process or confidence… But all it takes it the right move and three seconds... “
Her giggles titter like chirping birds.
Betsy: “Think I should challenge him to a dropkick contest?”
Adam: “No. Do NOT do that. I’ve been dropkicked so many times by him and other people and there is a HUGE difference. And every time I see him get dropkicked by someone, it never ends well for them…”
Sanders’s eyes are wide, a serious tone escaping him. He doesn’t blink as he looks into Betsy’s green eyes.
Adam: “I severely recommend against it…”
Nodding her head and laughing openly, Betsy slides out of the booth rubbing her tummy. She glances towards the ice cream menu, back to Adam, back to the menu, then back to Adam again. A devilish grin crosses her features as she knows that Adam knows her biggest weakness on the entire planet…
Betsy: “Got room for dessert?”
Adam: “I was practically expecting it, considering who is sitting across this table from me.”
Sanders smiles. Ice cream with Betsy Granger...it felt like it was 2014 all over again...
No cash in the bank, no paid holidays
All we have, all we have is
Gas in the tank, maps for the getaway
All we have, all we have is time
All we have is time
All we have is time
No white picket fence, no job with the government
All we have, all we have are
Mornings in bed, coffee, and aspirin
All we have
No cash in the bank, no sign of yesterday
All we have, all we have is
Gas in the tank, maps for the getaway
All we have, all we have is time